IGN's Top Ten Best-Looking GameCube Games

[Kolgar]

*drumroll please*

10. Viewtiful Joe
9. Starfox Adventures
8. Star Wars Rogue Squadron: Rogue Leader II
7. Metroid Prime: Echoes
6. Prince of Persia: Sands of Time
5. F-Zero GX
4. Beyond Good & Evil
3. Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker
2. Resident Evil 4
1. Metroid Prime



What are they smoking? Metroid Prime over RE4? Come on, I own both games and let me just say there's no comparison. RE4 is the best-looking game I think I have EVER seen, on any platform. Just last night, my girlfriend and I were playing, and we went down in some caverns, and she's like, "OK, did they actually go down into real caverns and start filming?" And I had been thinking the same thing.

So... Discuss!

 

[bas1975]

I love Metroid Prime, but RE4 is head and shoulders above anything else on the Gamecube. RE4 definitely should have been #1.

 

[Kolgar]

... And I take personal offense to the fact that Rogue Leader II came in at #8. This, along with RE4, are two of the most gob-smackingly gorgeous console games I've ever played.

I'd have put it #2.

***edit*** I meant Rogue Squadron III: Rebel Strike. Where the hell is this on IGN's list?

 

[Shifty Geezer]

After my same complaints for their Best PS2 visuals, I think we can safely concluded the staff at IGN wouldn't know a good looking game if it bit them on the nose!

 

[ChryZ]

Hm, I only own 6 of those 10, but I still dare to disagree with that ranking!

-RS3:RS is a much better looking game than RS2:RL, it should be in the top5.
-MP1 on #1? It's a good looking game, but WTF?
-Where is Pikmin2?

 

[Murakami]

And what about MP2 six positions after MP1? It's a non-sense! However, RE4 must be number one, for sure.

 

[digitalwanderer]

Why isn't Super Smash Brothers Melee on there?

I mean it's nothing mind-blowing graphically, but all the graphics it uses are just gorgeous!

(Yeah, I'm an AA whore still. )

 

[Phil]

Obviously, Metroid Prime's framerate of 60 fps would have to be quantified with Resident Evil's lower framerate? I see that as a possible reason why Metroid Prime took the crown...

 

[Kolgar]

Obviously, Metroid Prime's framerate of 60 fps would have to be quantified with Resident Evil's lower framerate? I see that as a possible reason why Metroid Prime took the crown...

Hm, I'll have to plug in Metroid this weekend and have another look. It was pretty. But 60fps or no, it didn't have the visceral, drop-my-jaw-every-half-hour impact of RE4.

 

[DuckThor Evil]

Yes Resident Evil should have been number one, and eventhough beyond good & evil is great game, I think it's been placed too high same goes for Prince of Persia. Resi remake and Zero also are gorgeous, but because they are prerendered I'm not sure if they are eligible , but they are great looking games anyways.

 

[Teasy]

Obviously, Metroid Prime's framerate of 60 fps would have to be quantified with Resident Evil's lower framerate? I see that as a possible reason why Metroid Prime took the crown...

But Metroid Prime 2 had the same 60fps framerate and looked better then the first game.

 

[see colon]

all od the games on the list belong there (maybe in a different order) except for maybe fzero. it's nice looking, but IMHO doesn't really hold it's own the the rest of the titles on the list. it's a technicly nice looking title, it just doesn't have that extra polish that puts it over the edge.

 

[Teasy]

Hmm, nah IMO F-Zero deserves to be on that list. Extremely solid texture work and polygon counts, some lovely effects and a blistering framerate.

 

[see colon]

like i said, it's technicly impressive, i just find the look to be... soulless and uninspired. that sounds a bit harsh, but i think that's the best i can do at descriding it.

 

[Phil]

Teasy,

But Metroid Prime 2 had the same 60fps framerate and looked better then the first game.

I was just giving a possible reason why Metroid Prime toped Resident Evil on the Cube's top 10. Given the framerate difference, I'd agree, despite that Resident Evil obviously is the nicer looking title. I think the game at least needs a 60 fps framerate to be "technically more impressive" (which RE4 hasn't).

As to why Metroid Prime is rated better than MP2, I assume this should clearify their reasons:

While lacking the overall "wow" factor of the original, Echoes holds its own as a visual masterpiece. Ultimately, it loses points for Dark Aether. Certainly, it's a matter of taste. But c'mon, most of it felt the same.

Since I haven't played neither - I really don't have an opinion on these two games as to which is better.

 

[Teasy]

Yeah I understand that and its a good point. I was just pointing out that if that's the way they're thinking then MP2 should take the top spot not MP.

Reading that quote they seem to have put MP ahead of MP2 because it came out first and so suprised them more graphically (more "wow factor"). I assume that's also why they put Rogue Leader ahead of the superior looking Rebel Strike. Not the best way to go for a "best looking games" list IMO.

 

[Bohdy]

Yeah I understand that and its a good point. I was just pointing out that if that's the way they're thinking then MP2 should take the top spot not MP.

Reading that quote they seem to have put MP ahead of MP2 because it came out first and so suprised them more graphically (more "wow factor"). I assume that's also why they put Rogue Leader ahead of the superior looking Rebel Strike. Not the best way to go for a "best looking games" list IMO.

Yeah, that is what also what I concluded the list is based on.

 

[jvd]

Wonder if a revised top 10 after the new loz would put it at first place

 

[Eagle-Vision]

If this list includes art, then Metroid Prime sure deserves to be the best. BUT, if it is from a pure technical standpoint, then Rebel Strike blows all of them away.

 

[Blade]

Yeah, the omission of Rebel Strike (considering they included Rogue Leader) is just strange.

Then again, did RS really improve on the art direction.. or just the technical aspects of RL?

Pure graphical prowess isn't what IGN was looking at, as they made obvious with their choice to put Wind Waker up there. Not that Wind Waker isn't pushing the hardware a little..